Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A standard capitulum type of chrysanthemum plant which is a sport of the non-commercial cultivar Arcade, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,659, granted Nov. 26, 1974; Brocade being distinguished from the parent cultivar by its medium to dark yellow ray floret color, taller plant height, larger flower size, and longer flowering response period.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Brocade.

Brocade is a product of a planned sport induction program which had theobjective of expanding the color range of the parental cultivar, Arcade,disclosed in our U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,659, granted Nov. 26, 1974.

Brocade was discovered and selected by William E. Duffett and Walter H.Jessel, Jr. on June 18, 1975 as one plant within a flowering block ofthe parental cultivar in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.Plants within the flowering block were derived from stock plants whichhad been irradiated as rooted cuttings with an x-ray source of 2600 runits.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Brocade was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in October,1975 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Walter H.Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett. Continued asexual reproduction byvegetative cuttings for evaluative flowering and stock programs inconjunction with horticultural examination of selected units initiatedJan. 30, 1976 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for Brocade are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Brocade has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Barberton, Ohio and in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouseenvironmental conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Brocade which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Standard capitulum type.

(2) Incurved capitulum form.

(3) Medium to dark yellow ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 145 to 170 mm. atmaturity.

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height (requires 1-3 long days prior to short days toattain a flowered plant height of 77 to 82 cm. when grown as a singlestem plant for April through November flowerings).

(7) Excellent shipping durability.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical inflorescenceand foliage characteristics of Brocade. Some difficulty was encounteredin obtaining accurate color representation, the photographic renditionbeing more gold and less yellow than the actual flower color of Brocade.The color readings within the following description are, however,correct.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar existing cultivar in comparison to Brocade is #2 YellowAlbatross (unpatented). Reference is made to attached Chart A whichcompares certain characteristics of Brocade with the samecharacteristics of #2 Yellow Albatross. Comparisons to the parentalcultivar, Arcade, are also included, although Arcade has not beencommercially distributed. General comparisons are as follows:

(1) In comparison to #2 Yellow Albatross, Brocade has darker yellowflower color, larger capitulum size, and taller plant height. Theshipping durability, flowering response period, capitulum form, andcapitulum type of Brocade are similar to those same characteristics of#2 Yellow Albatross.

(2) In comparison to Arcade, the ray floret color of which is white,Brocade has different ray floret color, larger diameter across face ofcapitulum, taller plant height, and longer flowering response period.The shipping durability, capitulum form, and capitulum type of Brocadeare similar to those same characteristics of Arcade.

In the following description, color references are made to A Limit ColorCascade, published by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. The colorvalues were determined between 9:30 and 10:00 A.M. on May 17, 1978 under90 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Brocade.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. capitulum:

Form.--Incurved.

Type.--Standard.

Permanence.--14 to 18 days.

Diameter across face.--145 to 170 mm.

B. corolla of ray florets:

Color (abaxial).--26-5 to 26-3.

Color (immature center).--Approximately 24-7.

Color (adaxial).--26-3 to 26-2.

C. reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets; scant to few; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

II. PLANT

A. general appearance: Semi-upright branching pattern; medium height.

B. foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 19-15.

Color (adaxial).--20-13 to 20-14.

                  Chart A                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Brocade, #2 Yellow Albatross, and Arcade.                                       Diameter             Flow- Capit-                                             Across         Ship- ering ulum                                      Ray      Face of        ping  Re-   Form                                      Floret   Capit-   Plant Dura- sponse                                                                              and                                Cultivar                                                                             Color    ulum     Height                                                                              bility                                                                              Period                                                                              Type                               ______________________________________                                        Brocade                                                                              Medium   145 to   Med-  Ex-   8 week                                                                              In-                                       to       170 mm.  ium,  cel-        curved                                    Dark              77 to lent        Stan-                                     yellow            82 cm.            dard                               #2     Light to 125 to   Short,                                                                              Ex-   8 week                                                                              In-                                Yellow medium   150 mm.  60 to cel-        curved                             Albatross                                                                            yellow            70 cm.                                                                              lent        Stan-                                                                         dard                               Arcade White    140 to   Short,                                                                              Ex-   7 week                                                                              In-                                                165 mm.  65 to cel-        curved                                                      75 cm.                                                                              lent        Stan-                                                                         dard                               ______________________________________                                         *Comparisons made of plants grown in a greenhouse in Barberton, Ohio and      in Salinas, California.                                                  

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium;Ramat., known by the cultivar name Brocade and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics ofstandard capitulum type, incurved capitulum form, medium to dark yellowray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 145 to170 mm. at maturity, uniform eight week flowering response, medium plantheight, and excellent shipping durability.